CVE-2018-0240 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2018-0240 affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense Software. Find out how to mitigate these vulnerabilities and prevent denial of service attacks.
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software contain vulnerabilities that could allow a remote attacker to trigger a denial of service (DoS) attack.
Understanding CVE-2018-0240
Multiple vulnerabilities in the Application Layer Protocol Inspection feature of Cisco ASA and FTD Software could lead to a DoS condition.
What is CVE-2018-0240?
The vulnerabilities in Cisco ASA and FTD Software allow unauthenticated attackers to cause affected devices to reload, resulting in a DoS situation. These vulnerabilities stem from logical errors during traffic inspection.
The Impact of CVE-2018-0240
- Remote attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities without authentication, leading to a DoS scenario by causing a deadlock condition and device reload.
- Affected systems include various Cisco products configured for Application Layer Protocol Inspection.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-0240
The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
- Logical errors in traffic inspection within Cisco ASA and FTD Software.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Cisco ASA Software and Cisco FTD Software configured for Application Layer Protocol Inspection on multiple Cisco products.
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can send a large volume of malicious traffic through affected devices to trigger a reload and cause a DoS situation.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-0240.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-provided patches and updates promptly.
- Implement network traffic monitoring to detect and mitigate malicious traffic.
- Disable Application Layer Protocol Inspection if not essential for operations.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch all software and firmware on Cisco devices.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Refer to Cisco's security advisory for specific patches and updates to address CVE-2018-0240.